Health
By Rebecca Perkins
ADHD
is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world; it is estimated to affect around 1 in 10 people worldwide. Sadly however, it is still one of the most misunderstood disorders in existence.
ADHD is more like a spectrum, more like what Autism is for example. There are in fact many different symptoms and challenges and every child or adult with ADHD will struggle with different symptoms in different ways.
But what is ADHD, and why is it so misunderstood?
In other words you could potentially have four children all with ADHD and each one could have completely different challenges.
Well the first and most important thing to understand about ADHD is that it is real. It is not a social disorder that is brought on by bad parenting, it is not brought on by the school a child went to or the friends they played with. ADHD is a real disorder. Just recently I saw a meme that said ‘I had ADHD until my Dad took off his belt’. It is this misguided stereotype that sadly harms so many children and adults living with ADHD. Not only is ADHD very real, but to those who have it life can be extremely challenging. So it is absolutely crucial that we begin as a society to change this mistaken belief, so that children growing up with ADHD can get the support and understanding they need.
So what exactly is ADHD? The problem with ADHD is that it is not as simple to understand as it’s name (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) leads us to believe. ADHD is much more than a linear disorder that goes from mild to severe, where individuals only have problems with hyperactivity or inattention. 96
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
One child may struggle more with the hyperactive and impulsive side of ADHD; this child may be very fidgety, always on the go and may find sitting still in the classroom or to eat their dinner, for example, really difficult. However, the second child may not have any problem with hyperactivity at all; this child may struggle more with disorganisation. Staying organised with anything from homework to just remembering what they need to be doing and when, could be a huge challenge for this child. So what about child number three; well child number three’s biggest struggle could be anxiety and emotional dys-regulation. Both anxiety and poor emotional regulation are huge challenges for many children with ADHD. And as they progress through childhood and into adulthood, if they don’t get the necessary support this can cause massive problems for them in their life. continued next page.....